Ageing is a time of multiple illnesses and general disability. Besides an increased level of illness, the ageing process itself leads to certain disabilities such as low vision and blindness resulting from cataracts, deafness resulting from nerve impairment, loss of mobility from arthritis and a general inability to care for oneself. Furthermore, ageing is inevitable and thus of concern to each of us.

The number of persons above the age of 60 years is fast growing, especially in India. India has 76.6 million people at or over the age of 60, constituting about 7.7% of total population. The problems faced by this segment of the population are numerous owing to the socio-cultural changes within the Indian society. The major area of concern is the health of the elderly.

Older people have the right to basic age care facilities such as pensions, social security, health care etc. The well being of the older persons has been mandated in the Constitution of India. Article 41 of Indian Constitution deals with the State’s role in providing social security to the aged.

The Government of India is committed to provide an enabling environment to secure the goals of economic and social security for the elderly population. Health of its citizen is the government top agenda, and to provide health services across various sections of society the government follows a three-tiered public health system:

• Primary Health Centers (PHC) in villages
• District Hospitals
• Tertiary Care Hospitals

Besides, the government also provides health facilities such as CGHS to its retired central government officials. And Geriatrics Clinics are also being run in various major hospitals in the country especially for the senior citizens.

• CGHS
• Health Schemes